Originally posted by kentishI agree. That is why I assumed Pete made the deal with "the devil" and not God. There was even a good recent issue of Sensational SM written by Matt Fraction (maybe the annual?) where Pete encounters God, and it would have been a perfect opportunity to do this. Instead, this way, they have an out if they want to retcon OMD. However, I don't see it happening as long as JQ is still in the EiC chair, he has wanted this since he got the job.

Two retcons don't make a right.

"I could drown the pain, and drink upon commuter trains and here you stand in eastern standard time" - Mike Doughty

This has been a fascinating thread/discussion for me, as an old-time collectorand a current part-time comic store browser. If I was still a passionate fan, I'd be mightily pissed off.

My question is, Why did Mephisto do this to Peter and Mary Jane in the first place? Did he have a longstanding grudge against Spider-Man, or was he looking for something to do out of boredom? From a storyline perspective, it just seems very random.

Also confusing is the "what is and isn't erased from continuity" question, and really, Marvel should have a bullet list to explain that all better.

Originally posted by The GoonMy question is, Why did Mephisto do this to Peter and Mary Jane in the first place? Did he have a longstanding grudge against Spider-Man, or was he looking for something to do out of boredom? From a storyline perspective, it just seems very random.

The official explanation is that Mephisto did this so he would feed off the sorrow that would come off of a Peter/Mary Jane split. Of course, when you consider that Peter was at his lowest point (in terms of sorrow) with his aunt dying and could only go lower from there, this becomes a fabricated explanation at best.

Another question that pops up is that if his aunt getting shot never happened, what does this mean for the Kingpin, who was decisively beaten one-on-one in ASM a few issues ago and is currently out of the country nursing his wounds? Does this mean he goes back to jail? Is he still loose (as seen in "Daredevil"), but it's been retconned so someone else kicked his ass?

Originally posted by It's FalseAnother question that pops up is that if his aunt getting shot never happened, what does this mean for the Kingpin, who was decisively beaten one-on-one in ASM a few issues ago and is currently out of the country nursing his wounds? Does this mean he goes back to jail? Is he still loose (as seen in "Daredevil"), but it's been retconned so someone else kicked his ass?

You know, this is kind of interesting. Spider-Man, the Marvel flagship character, has now essentially become a character who has been at least somewhat 'erased' from history. It's like a real-life version of what Marvel tried with Sentry, Marvel's fake 'flagship' character.

Comicbookresources (Comicbookresources.com) has an interesting interview up with Joe Q detailing just about everything you could possibly want to know about One More Day.

If you can get past the fact Quesada thinks far to highly of himself and how he comes off as a complete fucktard, the interview itself is pretty good. He says that a the reason JMS wanted his name off the book was NOT because he thought it was a retarded idea in the first place, but because they changed certain parts of his story. Joe Q claims that JMS was all for the story concept.

Another interesting point that is made that I didn't really think about is that Peter didn't make the deal with Mephisto, Mary Jane did. I'm really hoping this is the 'out' for later on down the line when Quesada is booted from the company and someone else who has no problem with continuity and natural character development takes over as EIC.

Originally posted by CerebusAnother interesting point that is made that I didn't really think about is that Peter didn't make the deal with Mephisto, Mary Jane did. I'm really hoping this is the 'out' for later on down the line when Quesada is booted from the company and someone else who has no problem with continuity and natural character development takes over as EIC.

I think his reign of terror will last quite a while longer unfortunately. Marvel books in general have sold too well under his tenure (when compared with circulation numbers post comic "market crash") for him to be outed. Now if ASM tanks drastically because of this and stay in the crapper through the next movie, then all bets are off. I doubt that will happen though.

That being said, Peter *did* make the deal with Mephisto. Mephisto stated that they both had to agree. MJ agreed first and then added something she whispered to Mephisto (which will probably end up being their "out,") and then Peter reluctantly agrees by saying "NYRAAARGH! Do it."

And good catch on the organic webshooters ShippeWreck. That was Paul Jenkins (I believe). My bad. I still stand by my JMS criticisms though.

It is a good rule in life never to apologize. The right sort of people do not want apologies, and the wrong sort take a mean advantage of them. P. G. Wodehouse (1881 - 1975), The Man Upstairs (1914)

DrewDewce hit the nail on the head. Marvel books have sold better than they have in a long time under JQ, so you can't argue with success. We may not like all of the changes or the overall direction, but many people obviously do and are buying the hell out of these books, whether they will admit it or not. ; )

"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

It is now being reported (volunteertv.com)that Andre Norton has passed away. While she was never one of my absolute favorites, her books were always ones that I enjoyed and often found to be quite thought provoking.